Los Angeles Sliding Glass Doors

Popular Local Trends & Styles

• Sliding Screen Door Sliding glass doors don’t have to serve as an open invitation to the outdoors, because not all elements of the Southern California climate are welcome in your home. The warm weather, especially for coastal neighborhoods like Venice and the Pacific Palisades, can bring mosquitoes and other pests to your area. Screens¹ enable you to keep these insects out while the cool breeze is allowed safe passage into your home.
• Sliding French Patio Doors

  Cape Cod style homes have become a staple of neighborhoods like Sherman Oaks and Encino over the last few years. Perfect for idyllic living, these homes are often simple and practical. But some homeowners are looking to add a touch of sophistication that won’t clash with the traditional style of their home. Sliding French patio doors offer exactly that, incorporating a classic French look into your Cape Cod style home that adds space and style.

• Modern and Contemporary Style

  Los Angeles is no stranger to unique architecture styles, but modern, mid-century modern, and contemporary houses stand out among the crowd as today’s most popular styles. Sliding glass doors are the perfect match for a modern style home, complementing the open layout with an abundance of natural light and allowing you to take advantage of the surrounding landscape with a picturesque panorama of the outdoors. Conversely, if you’re looking to update your traditional or Victorian style home, sliding glass doors provide a contemporary touch to an otherwise traditional home.

• Multi-Sliding Doors

  Contemporary style homes, by nature, are always changing. The current definition in the Los Angeles area is a home that blends traditional and modern elements. Consider a happy medium between the two. To add a modern element to a more traditional design, multi-slide glass doors can be the perfect fit. These multi-slide doors, which can be configured up to 10 panels wide, open up entire walls of your home to the outside world and that beautiful California weather.

¹Warning: Use caution when children or pets are around open windows and doors. Screens are not designed to retain children or pets.

Product Lines

• Architect Series® Traditional
• Architect Series® Contemporary
• Pella® Lifestyles Series
• Encompass by Pella®
• Pella® Impervia®
• Pella® 350 Series

Recommended Customizations¹

Los Angeles homeowners tend to find inspiration from an eclectic collection of sources, whether they are weighing architectural styles or identifying the design touches that will distinguish their homes from the rest of the neighborhood. Metals from brass and silver to matte black and polished chrome are among the most popular types of hardware and fixtures today. With more homeowners interested in blending contemporary and traditional elements, there are also a variety of grilles that can be used to achieve your own unique look and feel. Find more customizations here.

¹Not all customizations are available in all Pella product lines.

Los Angeles Climate Recommendations

Milder than a Mediterranean climate, Los Angeles is associated with very mild and relatively rainy winters and warm and sunny summers. Energy-efficient glass can be especially effective in helping to protect against the summer heat. If you’re living along the coast, you’ll want to consider materials and finishes that will be able to help withstand the harmful effects of the salt in the air.

Why Choose Pella?

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Frequently Asked Questions

•   What factory-prefinished stain and paint colors are available on Pella products?

  • Wood Windows and Patio Doors – Wood interiors offer more design flexibility — windows and patio doors can be stained or painted to match your decor.  Explore the interior and exterior finish options available for Pella's wood products.

    As part of Pella Corporation’s commitment to environmentally-friendly practices, we use Water-Based Green Chemistry. Our factory-applied stain is water-based, which significantly decreases the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted into the air.

    Fiberglass Windows and Patio Doors – Available in colors offering the quality look of painted wood — including a dual-color option. Explore the interior and exterior finish options available for Pella's fiberglass products.

    Vinyl Windows and Patio Doors – Pella's unique vinyl formula is performance-tested for excellent weathering, durability, and color retention. Solid- and Dual-Color frames are available. Explore the interior and exterior finish options available for Pella's vinyl products.

    Fiberglass and Steel Entry Doors – You'll save time and finishing costs when your entry door arrives prefinished in your choice of paint or stain color that will look beautiful for years. Explore interior and exterior finish options for Pella's fiberglass and steel entry doors.

•   How do I apply paint or stain to my Pella wood windows and patio doors?

  • Learn how to paint your wood interior finish, prepare products for finishing, finish removable grilles, select the right paint or stain and more in the Pella Help Library.

•   What general maintenance is required for my Pella windows and patio doors?

  • Pella recommends you inspect your windows and patio doors at least annually as part of a home checkup. Maintenance can prolong the life of your Pella windows and doors and will help ensure maximum warranty coverage.
    
    As needed, clean, repaint or restain your windows and patio doors, and recaulk around them to help maintain optimal performance. Also, be sure to regularly check for leaks and improper drainage above or around vents and sprinkler systems that may subject your windows and patio doors to prolonged water exposure.
    
    Review the Maintenance section of the Pella Window and Patio Door Owner's Manual for additional details about how to properly maintain the interior and exterior of your Pella windows and patio doors.

•   Which Pella doors are available with SmartKey® Technology?

  • SmartKey Technology is available, and comes standard, on Pella's fiberglass and steel entry doors.  Architect Series® sliding, French and hinged patio doors with hardware from the Rustic, Classic or Modern Collection will have SmartKey Technology.

    Learn more about Pella's hardware collections and how to use SmartKey Technology.

•   Where can I get paint or stain to match the interior and exterior of my Pella products?

  • Paints and stains for Pella products are available in quarts and gallons via special order through Lowe's stores or your local Pella Window and Door Showroom. You will need to provide the color of the paint or stain that you need to place an order.

    Or you may take the color or stain desired along with the substrate you are trying to match to your local Sherwin-Williams® or home improvement store and have them custom match the color.

    If you don't have a Pella paint chip or just need a small bottle of touch up paint or stain for dings and scratches, submit a request to Pella Corporation's customer support team or call (877) 473-5527 for further assistance.

    Be sure to consult with your local paint or finish store representative or professional to help address your specific finishing needs and review the Finishing section of your Pella Owner's Manual for details about how to properly finish your Pella products.

•   How do I clean my Pella windows and patio doors? What can I use to clean them?

  • Clean the interior and exterior frame surfaces with warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Stubborn stains and deposits may be removed with mineral spirits. Or Pine-Sol® can be applied with a clean, dry cloth or towel. Do not use abrasives. Do not scrape or use tools that might damage the surface. Should you need it, touch-up paint is available at the Pella Window and Door Showroom nearest you.

    Clean the window sill using the brush attachment on a vacuum and vacuum off any debris.

    It is normal for water to accumulate in the sill and track. On products with weep holes, the water is intended to drain to the outside via the drainage or "weep" holes.

    • To clean the weep (drainage) system, check to make sure that the weep holes are clear of obstruction (dirt, sand, or building materials).
    • To clean the weep holes, use a small, soft brush to clear the opening. Weep holes may be located both inside and outside the window in the bottom of the frame. If the window is "stacked," there may be weep holes between the units.

    WARNINGS:

    • Do not use abrasive or caustic solvents as they may damage your windows or patio doors.
    • Do not scrape or use tools that might damage the surface. 
    • Do not power-wash.

    Review the Cleaning section of the Pella Window and Patio Door Owner's Manual for additional details about how to properly clean your Pella windows and patio doors.

•   How do I clean and restore shine to the handles and hardware on my windows and doors?

  • A soft cloth and mild cleaner may be used on most Pella hardware finishes. 

    Living finish Oil-Rubbed Bronze hardware will develop its own unique patina with use, care and handling. Simply wipe the hardware with a soft cloth so as not to damage the finish. The changing of color on the hardware is not a warranty issue.

    The solid brass hardware used on some previous vintages of Pella wood hinged (French) patio doors has a clear protective coating to prevent tarnishing. Download instructions to care for solid brass hardware.

    For additional information about how to properly care for your Pella windows and doors, refer to the Cleaning section of the Pella Window and Patio Door Owner's Manual.  

    For further assistance, submit a request to Pella Corporation's customer support team or call (877)-473-5527.

•   How do I lock and unlock my sliding patio door?

  • The thumbturn lock is located behind or above the door handle. To lock the door, turn the thumbturn lock to a vertical locked position. The locking system will engage when the door is closed. To unlock the door, turn the thumbturn lock in the opposite direction to a horizontal position.

    If your sliding patio door is equipped with a footbolt lock, it has two positions. One allows the door to be latched when it's about 3 inches open; the other provides extra security when the door is fully closed.

    To engage the lock, move the lock handle toward the side of the door. To disengage the lock, move the lock handle toward the center of the door.

    Review the Sliding Patio Door Screen section of the Pella Window and Patio Door Owner's Manual for additional details about the operation and care of your sliding patio door. If you continue to have difficulty, request a service visit or call (800) 242-1008 to find a Pella service location nearest you.

•   How do I remove the screen from my sliding patio door?

  • Download instructions for the material and vintage of your sliding patio door.

    Wood Sliding Patio Doors

    • Architect Series® (12/2004 – current) or Designer Series® (3/2005 – current) sliding patio doors (includes instructions for self-closing screens)
    • Architect Series (3/2002–12/2004), Designer Series (3/1997–12/2004), Pella® 450 Series (1991–8/1997) sliding patio doors
    • Pella 450 Series (9/1997 – current) sliding patio doors
    • Pella 450 Series (1991 – current) sliding patio doors

    Fiberglass Sliding Patio Doors

    • Pella Impervia® (2005 – current) sliding patio doors

    Vinyl Sliding Patio Doors

    • Encompass (Thermastar) by Pella (2003 – current) sliding patio doors
    • Pella® 350 Series (2010 – current) sliding patio doors

    We try to include information for a large portion of our various products and vintages; however, we do not have every older set of instructions available online. If you have questions regarding a non-current product not found on our site, submit a request to Pella Corporation's customer support team or call (877)-473-5527 for further assistance.
    
    If you have difficulty removing the screen, request a service visit or call (800) 242-1008 to find a Pella service location nearest you.

    WARNING: Screen will not stop child or pet from falling out the window. Keep child or pet away from open door.

    Refer to the Pella Window and Patio Door Owner's Manual for more information on operation, recommended care, and maintenance for your Pella sliding patio doors.